Sew Whats Up Presents

The Sew Whats New Archive

This archived content is from Mary Wilkins sewing and
quilting message board Sew Whats New, which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
Sew Whats Up,
which serves as the new home for many members of Sew Whats New.

Hello all! I've been lurking for so long that I forgot to join until a few weeks ago. I am a 56 yr old first grandmother who learned to sew when I was 9yrs old. My grandmother taught me and we would spend the summer making my school clothes. I have 4 children and sewed for all of them...boys and girls..even made the boys matching tee shirts and underware when the "underoos" craze was all my boys wanted to wear. When my daughter married 2yrs ago...it was in a gown that I designed and stitched up for her. Now...I have a beautiful grand-daughter to sew for. For her Christening, I made 52in long gown...lots of puffing and yards of tatting. I cheated...the tatting was purchased by the yard. Currently, I am finishing up my Easter outfit...and my Hancocks store is going out of business...so between trying to finish up the outfit, I am scarfing up fabric and notions before they close and I'm thrown into shopping on the internet.
I am looking forward to learning all sorts of new things from all of you all.....and meeting new sewing friends.

a few spare hours, a stash of fabric, and a well oiled machine...

User: greatseams
Member since: 03-28-2007
Total posts: 22

From: Brenisback

Date: 04-07-2007, 09:13 AM (2 of 12)

Welcome to the group...no wonder you you didn't have time to join earlier...to busy sewing... LOL

Welcome! Do you think you could open your head and pour all of your sewing knowledge directly into mine? I'm struggling along learning by doing it wrong the first time!

Theresa

User: temom
Member since: 01-19-2007
Total posts: 410

From: greatseams

Date: 04-09-2007, 04:35 PM (5 of 12)

I wish that I could do that...but I am still learning!!! Would you believe that it took me all day on Saturday to line a simple dress??? No kidding... I cannot tell you how many times I had to rip out various parts and to finally get it ready to wear! Sure enough...when I get to Church yesterday morning...a friend took me aside and showed me where the button on my suit jacket was a full two inches lower than the buttonhole...and I had it buttoned!!! I haven't a clue how I managed to do that one! I did fix the button and all is well...for now.

a few spare hours, a stash of fabric, and a well oiled machine...

User: greatseams
Member since: 03-28-2007
Total posts: 22

From: AndreaSews

Date: 04-09-2007, 04:48 PM (6 of 12)

Hi Greatseams. Welcome. I'll be flying in through your area next week, on my way to visit with a friend in southern Alabama. She teaches sewing at a high school near the coast.

Andrea

User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005
Total posts: 1007

From: greatseams

Date: 04-09-2007, 07:31 PM (7 of 12)

Hi Andrea,
I hope that the weather will put out a welcome mat for you! It's been COLD for the last few days...something that usually happens before Easter...so I hope that next week will bring our traditional Spring weather...sunny skies...warmth...and a gentle breeze. I wasn't born in this beautiful area...but got here as soon as I could!

a few spare hours, a stash of fabric, and a well oiled machine...

User: greatseams
Member since: 03-28-2007
Total posts: 22

From: keljo60

Date: 04-09-2007, 08:13 PM (8 of 12)

Hi Greatseams, Welcome! I have 2 daughters that I would love to be able to sew more for. One is 16 and doesn't want "home sewn" clothes! The other just turned 24 and wants a quilt! AHHH! I'm trying to get back into making clothes for myself, but I'm having pattern troubles, but I'm definitely getting closer. Again, welcome, ti's good to have another Floridian!

Kelly

Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup!

User: keljo60
Member since: 07-30-2006
Total posts: 154

From: greatseams

Date: 04-10-2007, 10:21 AM (9 of 12)

Hi Kelly,
Alas..neither of my daughters want to wear much "homemade" things...they prefer to shop and come home with a lot of things all at once. Elisabeth would have no part of a "storebought" wedding gown...thankfully, and Ruth has said the very same thing...but that may be a while...she isn't even shopping for a husband...between work and college..she hasn't the time. Now...my brother (he lives in Italy) has asked for Hawaiian shirts...so as soon as I finish up some burp pads for a shower gift, the shirts will be cut out...hopefully I can get them done this weekend.
Live Oak??? That part of the state is beautiful...but then again, all of it is beautiful. I'm in Pensacola...and am totally in love with the area...just wish that we had a decent fabric store. Our Hancocks is closing, I have never liked JoANN Fabrics...so I'm kind of at a loss. Any suggestions for online fabric stores???

Kathy

a few spare hours, a stash of fabric, and a well oiled machine...

User: greatseams
Member since: 03-28-2007
Total posts: 22

From: LegalDealer

Date: 04-10-2007, 06:54 PM (10 of 12)

Hello Greatseams!

I have just purchased my first online fabric, not out of need but curiosity and there was a discount involved. I had signed up for updates by Simplicity and they sent me an invitation to check out BuyFabrics.com I found that even though I didn't qualify for the free shipping and the minimum order for the discount, I used the discount code anyway and got it! I also have been eyeing Fabrics.com they seem to have all sorts of fabric, whereas Buyfabrics seems to have mostly home dec stuff and really fabulous trims. By the way, since I was shopping I did notice that Buyfabrics was a bit cheaper than Fabrics.com. If you are looking for a particular fabric brand and pattern/color it will pay to shop around.

By the way: In place of the tracing wheel what do you do? I am always on the look out for a better way, while I don't use the wheel, I pin a LOT and cut, time consuming!

User: LegalDealer
Member since: 10-19-2006
Total posts: 27

From: keljo60

Date: 04-10-2007, 08:01 PM (11 of 12)

Hi Kathy,
I haven't had much luck yet getting fabrics. We have Wal-mart here, but they've downsized their fabric dept so much that it only has some fleece and quilting fabrics. That sucks! I have to drive about an hour to go to the nearest Joanns and in Valdosta there is a Hobby Lobby and their fabric dept is about the size of a postage stamp!
I haven't gone online yet, except a few items on ebay I lucked out on, so I guess I'm kinda in your shoes there!
Let me know what you find out.

Kelly

Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup!

User: keljo60
Member since: 07-30-2006
Total posts: 154

From: greatseams

Date: 04-11-2007, 07:33 AM (12 of 12)

Hi Legal Dealer
I haven't used a tracing wheel in years....in fact the only time I ever used one was in Home Ec. I learned to sew from my grandmother, and she, like I, use chalk. I only mark the important stuff like darts, and placement dots for collars and the like....never a seam allowance. There is a great tool on the market, and it comes with all sorts of colors and works like a fat retractable pencil. It's great!
I'll check out the online fabric stores that you and Kelly suggested....I don't need them right now...but as hard as I am hitting the stash...it won't be long until I do! I did find some wonderful 100% linen on eBay last summer and at a good price too. As far as locally...well... since I don't quilt or do crafts, there is nothing here. Our Hobby Lobby fabric Dept is shrinking...and Wal-Mart doesn't carry fabric anymore....so unless I want to drive to Mobile (1 hr away) or Dothan (3hrs away) to visit a Hancocks...it's internet shopping!